Football Review – A Non-League Football Review

Rayners Lane sealed promotion to the Isthmian League after defeating Bedfont Sports on penalties in the Combine Counties Football League Premier North Division play-off final. Sports had looked to return to the South Central division at the first time of asking, but after a wonder strike midway through the second half had looked to win it for the hosts, a very late equaliser sent the game to penalties where Rayners Lane held their nerve to claim victory and the spoils of promotion to Step 4.

The first half produced very little in the way of goalmouth action as both sides sought to not concede early. Josh Williams got beyond the defender on the left hand side and looked to get a low cross in, but Bedfont were able to deal with it ease before Williams tried his luck again, but the full-back got the better of him.

Bedfont Sports’ Tommy O’Neill looked to get a shot off halfway through the first half, but his effort from inside the box was blocked before Rayners Lane continued to come forward. Troy Perez-Duah sent an effort from outside the box just wide before a Williams cross was headed back across goal by Frank Keita, but the visitors managed to clear their lines. Bedfont looked to ease the pressure by taking the ball down the other end, but they weren’t able to take the lead. A free header bounced just wide of the far post before a free-kick was floated into the box, but after initially missing his catch, Jack Smith held on at the second time of asking.

In the 30th minute, the away side sent another header just over the bar, but the half was ended with strong pressure from the hosts. Jordan Ajanlekoko got his head to an free-kick, but saw his effort fly over the bar before Elliott Buchanan headed the ball inches wide and Hassan Jalloh was almost through on goal, but for a last ditch tackle that denied him a shot at goal.

Bedfont had made the brightest start to the second half as Makael Scott saw his shot blocked in the opening minute before another blocked effort a couple of minutes later followed. Rayners Lane took the ball down the other end, but Henry Poole was out quickly to claim.

Jalloh almost produced the opener five minutes into the second period as he sent an effort just wide after being played through before the hosts continued to come forward. Buchanan tried his luck from outside the box, but his effort was straight at the keeper before Henry Poole pulled off an outstanding save at the near post and a cross from Williams travelled right across the face of goal, but the bodies being thrown at it, weren’t able to get a telling touch. Bedfont hadn’t been completely been pegged back: A free-kick from the edge of the box was fired towards goal, but Smith held on, before Jared Myers skipped past a couple of players, running the full length of the pitch, but the wingers cross was straight out of play.

Makael Smith saw his header from a cross come off the crossbar before the deadlock was broken by the hosts. A brilliant effort by Troy Perez-Duah from outside the box was cannoned into the net. The goal has almost sparked an instant second as Josh Williams squared the ball to Keita, but the latters effort was just wide.

As the clock counted down into the final 10 minutes, it was Rayners Lane who continued to seek a second. A couple of decent crosses were put into the danger zone, but no one was there to shoot and the other was blocked before a ball drilled across the face of goal, but nothing came from it. Bedfont had finally brought the ball up the pitch into added time, with a long throw being delivered into the box, but Smith managed to get it clear after initially dropping the ball into a crowded area. The visitors continued to push as time continued to tick away and the pressure paid off as they scored the equaliser in the 97th minute. A shot was fired off the crossbar before Aston Greaver was there to fired the ball beyond the keeper from close range.

With the game reaching the 102nd minute, Rayners Lane were settling for a draw as they won a couple of corners, but the set-pieces came to nothing and the game ended level, sending it to penalties.

Rayners Lane took the first and made no mistake as they converted from the spot, but the next three were all missed: Jack Smith producing two saves before the Lane’s second spot-kick was tipped onto the post by Poole. Despite getting a hand to Rayners third kick, the hosts managed to convert keeping the lead before the visitors third was fired over the bar. With a 2-0 lead, Rayners Lane converted their fourth penalty to seal promotion with a 3-0 triumph in the shootout.